It can work. Just be sure to check your states fishing regulations closely first. In many states it is illegal to use a gamefish as bait to catch another gamefish. Bream are considered gamefish so just an FYI.

It's state by state - probably different regs all over. It's legal here in Tennessee to use a gamefish as bait but you must legally harvest the gamefish and any creel and length limits still apply.

It was also legal in Florida when I was growing up there (probably still is). In fact, here's how my Dad introduced me to bass fishing. First, he taught me how to catch "brim" on a little cane pole (I'm about 6 years old at the time). So, he says "go catch me a brim." I catch a little brim and bring it to him. Then he says "now I'm gonna teach you how to catch a bass." He puts a hook throught the back of the brim and tosses it out under a float. He would do this when he wanted to take a break from casting artificials or sometimes he would have it as a second rod in the water. He'd use brim 'cause shiners were pretty expensive and he usually wouldn't pop for them.

Anyway, you can freeline them (hooked through mouth or tail) but in Florida it was common to hook them through the back and suspend them under a float. As for size - it depends on how big you think your bass are. As mentioned above - 1 to 5 inches is probably a pretty good range.

Do I use brim as bait now - nope - last time I did was in the mid-60s in South Florida. Nothing wrong with it, I just prefer to fish with articials nowadays.

Same for me as Goose said. We used to shiner fish under a balloon in Florida and when we would run out of shiners we would catch bluegill and start using them. Usually worked just as good. I've caught several up here in Tennessee doing this too. Usually in farm ponds. You'd be very suprised how small of a bass will eat, not such a small bluegill. I've caught several 5+ on it, but i've also caught fish that may not have hit 2lbs. I usually hook them in the back side on either side of the dorsal fin (I used to do this alot when I would catfish with bluegill) When rockfishing I would go between the eyes or thru the lips. Bass just depends on how long I am wanting to fish. I rarely do it anymore, because I fish so many tournaments now.

I use little BG or RES sometimes when I want to be lazy. I try to catch ones about maybe the width of your hand and re hook them deep and out the side of the mouth. I use to hook them in the back or tail but I think it kinda kills them faster and they loose energy quicker. You can kinda tell when its about to go down cause they try to make a mad dash for it then the float goes under and stays under. I give it like a slow 5 count before I set the hook. I have caught lots of nice cat fish that way.